By Mo Mooncey

He’s known around the world for his silky smooth jump shot, however, it may be the shots of wheatgrass and fruit smoothness that Ray Allen now becomes known for.


Up until the emergence of Stephen Curry, Ray Allen was known as the most deadly sharpshooter of all time. He was feared whenever he got the ball outside of the arc because, at any given time, he could rise over his defender and hit nothing but net thanks to his flawless shooting mechanics. The 10-time all-star who leads the NBA in all-time three-pointers scored has his eyes set on a very different challenge since leaving the league 2014.

Allen’s son Walker suffers from type-1 diabetes making it very difficult for him to find suitable healthy food that is readily available. Alongside his wife Shannon who is a cooking show host, the two-time NBA champion will open the first branch of Grown. Described as an organic, fast food, drive-through restaurant, Grown will open in March in South Miami at 8211 S. Dixie Highway.

Shannon Allen teamed up with a group of nutritional experts in order to design a secific menu. She said ​“I had an aha moment where I realized I couldn’t sit around helpless waiting for someone else to create a fast-food option that met our family’s dietary needs, and as we did our research it became obvious that this wasn’t a struggle unique to us, families everywhere are looking for convenience without compromise"

The first restaurant of it’s kind; Grown will give diners the option of eating in, taking out or a drive through option. The menu is comprised of locally sourced, organic items. Breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes such as soups, salads, wraps, gluten-free baked goods, freshly made juices, and coffee. All items will be range between just $4 and $18.

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Not only will the menu be comprised of nourishing foods, almost every aspect of the 1,900-square foot restaurant aims to be eco-friendly. The rooftop garden will allow local farmers to grow vegetables and herbs for use in the kitchen’s restaurant and the façade of the building is to be constructed from 100-year-old recycled barn wood. The menu’s, as well as the packaging of the kids meals, will be plantable.

Despite not currently being in the league, Ray Allen still maintains a grueling workout program and regimented diet. “People want to be healthier, eat cleaner and feel better about what they’re putting in their bodies. I know this from personal experience, and when Grown opens it will very much be a concept unlike anything else, designed to be accessible by everyone, from the weekend warrior to the soccer mom and anyone in between.”

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Allen became a free agent following the Miami Heat’s NBA finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and opted not to sign with a team, instead choosing to focus on a return during the 2015/16 season. With no plans to sign with a team in place yet, Allen will have to put his inner chef on hold if he wants to join the roster to hunt for a third NBA title. Despite being 40 years older, Allen still is one of the most clutch players in the world, with arguably the best 3-point shot (note: Curry, Steph).

Whether or not Allen returns to the league, his mark on Miami will definitely be more than just an NBA championship as Grown seeks to revolutionize fast food. Follow @TheHoopGenius on twitter for more NBA news, views and updates.